Press Releases
Van Hollen, Schatz Lead Over a Dozen Senators in Letter Urging Administration to Ensure Equal Treatment for All U.S. Citizens as It Considers Israel for Visa Waiver Program
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) led 14 of their colleagues in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas urging the Administration to ensure equal treatment of all U.S. citizens – regardless of ethnicity, national origin, and religion – is upheld within the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), as the Administration considers Israel’s candidacy to join the program. The … Continue Reading
May 19, 2023
Van Hollen, Cardin, Feinstein, Over 20 Senate Democrats Reintroduce Bill to Provide Certainty, Security to TPS Recipients
This week, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) reintroduced the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and in Emergency (SECURE) Act, legislation to allow qualified TPS recipients to apply for legal permanent residency. “America has a long tradition of offering refuge to those who face imminent danger in returning to their countries. During that time, many TPS recipients have become part of the fabric of … Continue Reading
May 18, 2023
Van Hollen Statement Following Meeting with Family of Shireen Abu Akleh
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement after his meeting with family members of American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh who was shot and killed while reporting on an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin. The Senator met with Lina and Victor Abu Akleh, the niece and nephew of Shireen, as well as Jennifer Zacharia, cousin of Shireen: “Just over a year ago, Shireen Abu Akleh, an American citizen and respected journalist, was … Continue Reading
May 18, 2023
Van Hollen, Schatz, Collins, Senators Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Reform Disaster Recovery
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) reintroduced legislation to help communities recover from major disasters. The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act would strengthen the … Continue Reading
May 17, 2023
Baltimore-Area Congressional Delegation Members Applaud Launch of Workforce Hub in Baltimore to Connect Workers to Jobs and Build Out America’s Skilled Workforce
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) applauded the Biden Administration's launch of a new workforce hub in Baltimore to train workers to step into good-paying jobs and build out our region's skilled workforce as its clean energy and infrastructure industries grow. This announcement stems from the lawmakers' efforts to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation … Continue Reading
May 17, 2023
Van Hollen, Cardin Urge Biden Administration to Renew TPS Designation for Sudan, Providing Critical Relief to Sudanese in U.S.
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) wrote to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging the Department to issue a new Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Sudan. TPS is designated for countries that are deemed unsafe for their citizens to return due to extraordinary circumstances such as war or natural disaster, allowing those countries’ nationals that are already in the U.S. to live and work here on a temporary basis. Sudan has … Continue Reading
May 17, 2023
Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Announce Over $24 Million in Federal Funding to Spur Economic Growth in Maryland Communities Disproportionately Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) announced $24,671,056 to help six Maryland-based community financial institutions spur economic growth and create job opportunities. The awards, allocated through the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institution Equitable Recovery Program (CDFI ERP), will help underserved communities that have been disproportionately harmed by … Continue Reading
May 16, 2023
Van Hollen, Rubio, Phillips, Moore Introduce New Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Boost Employee Ownership of Businesses
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and U.S. Representatives Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) and Blake Moore (R-Utah) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to make it easier for private companies to transfer ownership of the business to their employees. Right now, over 40 percent of U.S. corporate stock is owned by foreign investors, and foreign corporate ownership is set to increase as a wave of business owners in the baby boom generation retire and sell their … Continue Reading
May 15, 2023
Van Hollen, Brown, Waters, Current and Former Members File Amicus Brief Supporting CFPB
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.-43), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, as well as over 100 current and former Members of Congress, including Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and 100 other current and former Members of the House of Representatives, as well as … Continue Reading
May 11, 2023
Van Hollen, Cardin Praise Judiciary Committee Approval of Judge Brendan Hurson for Maryland U.S. District Court Seat
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) praised the Judiciary Committee’s bipartisan approval of Judge Brendan Hurson to serve as U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Maryland. “On behalf of our Maryland constituents, we are pleased that the Senate Judiciary Committee voted today to send the nomination of Judge Brendan Hurson to the full Senate for consideration,” the Senators said. “Judge Hurson brings outstanding experience to the … Continue Reading
May 11, 2023
Van Hollen Statement Marking One Year Since the Shooting Death of American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement marking one year since the shooting death of American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh: "Today we mark the solemn one-year anniversary of the shooting death of American citizen and journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed while reporting on an Israeli Defense Forces operation in the West Bank. "At the time of her shooting, Shireen was wearing her press vest and full press regalia. She was doing her job, reporting … Continue Reading
May 10, 2023
As Violence Persists, Van Hollen, Cardin Join Colleagues in Calling for Increased Humanitarian Access and Assistance for Sudan
As violence between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues for a third week, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) joined Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-Va.) in formally requesting that the Biden administration offer all available support for humanitarian efforts in the region. The worsening conditions in Sudan have resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths and have forced hundreds of thousands to flee in search of … Continue Reading
May 09, 2023
Members of Congress Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Resolution Celebrating National Nurses Week
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) with Representatives Dave Joyce (R-Ohio-14), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.-02), and Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.-14) to introduce a bipartisan, bicameral resolution recognizing National Nurses Week. The resolution honors and celebrates the important contributions of America's nurses to safe, high-quality care and the invaluable role that nurses play in patient care every … Continue Reading
May 09, 2023
Van Hollen, Reed Offer Consumer Credit Control Act to Put Consumers in Charge of Credit Report Sharing & Shoot Down Unwanted “Trigger Leads”
In an effort to empower consumers and put Americans in control of their personal information and credit reports, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) introduced the Consumer Credit Control Act (S. 1327). This bill would amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to give consumers control over when and how their consumer reports are shared by credit bureaus. It would also help cut down on so-called "trigger leads," where the credit reporting bureaus sell the fact that a … Continue Reading
May 09, 2023
Van Hollen, Norton, Raskin, Ivey Urge Biden Administration to Provide Robust Funding, Expedited Timeline for Union Station Expansion Project
Today, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), and Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) led 15 members of Congress, including the entire National Capital Region delegation, in urging the Biden administration to provide robust funding and an expedited timeline for the Union Station Expansion Project (USEP), which would more than double the station's current capacity. "Union Station is a central hub for regional commuters - … Continue Reading
May 09, 2023
Maryland Delegation Members Announce $824,000 to Improve Scenic Byways Across Maryland
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) announced $824,000 in federal funding for the Maryland Department of Transportation to improve Maryland’s scenic roads. This funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration’s National Scenic Byways Program will support … Continue Reading
May 08, 2023
Van Hollen, Cardin Join Congressional Colleagues in Filing Amicus Brief Urging Reversal of Texas District Court’s Ruling on Mifepristone
This week, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) joined their colleagues in submitting an amicus brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in the case of Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, urging the Court to reverse the district court’s stay on the FDA’s more than 20-year-old approval of mifepristone. In April, the Supreme Court issued a stay of the lower court ruling that allows mifepristone to remain on the market while … Continue Reading
May 05, 2023
In Response to Van Hollen Questioning, Administration Official Acknowledges Need for Accountability in Shooting Death of Shireen Abu Akleh
Yesterday, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) questioned Yael Lempert, nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, regarding the lack of accountability in the shooting death of American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and the delayed release to Congress of the new report compiled by the U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority on her death, following his letter on this issue sent Monday. A transcript of his remarks is available below and video is … Continue Reading
May 05, 2023
Van Hollen, Sullivan Recognize U.S. Foreign Service Day
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), co-founders of the bipartisan Senate Foreign Service Caucus, have passed a Senate resolution celebrating May 5, 2023 as “Foreign Service Day.” The day recognizes the men and women who have served, or are presently serving, in the Foreign Service of the United States and honors the members of the Foreign Service who have given their lives in the line of duty. Foreign Service Day has been celebrated on the first … Continue Reading
May 04, 2023
Van Hollen, Menendez, Risch, Romney Unveil Taiwan Tax Agreement Act of 2023
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) joined in unveiling the Taiwan Tax Agreement Act of 2023, bipartisan legislation to authorize the Biden administration to negotiate and conclude a tax agreement with Taiwan. Similar to a tax treaty, this agreement would play a key role in facilitating investment between the United States and Taiwan, including in key strategic industries such as semiconductors, by making it easier … Continue Reading
